What’s interesting about this painting is that it’s a blend of the English, and the American.
The Met tells us that American Frank Millet (1846-1912) lived in the Cotswolds for a time, and his home was a transatlantic centre for English and American artists. This painting, too, is a blend of English and American, with the costuming and architecture English, but with some of the features of a Massachusetts kitchen. Millet lost his life on 15th April, 1912, on a transatlantic voyage – on the RMS Titanic.
I read this Met explanation after I’d written this “cosey corner” poem. Now, I’d like to think my little poem might have a little of the transatlantic in it, too.
A Cosey Corner
Three apples by the fire
Their cheeks, red and ripe
He told her she was as fine
And fiery as a ripe, red apple
Her cheeks warm by fire
While her apple ripens
©elsp 2025
More of my original ekphrastic (responding to art) poetry here. More on free verse here.
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